Monday, July 9, 2012

Fastkill - Bestial Thrashing Bulldozer



If the name doesn’t give it away, this album is about only two things: playing really fast and playing thrash. These maniacs from Japan are obsessed with pushing the boundaries of speed, and interestingly enough, they chose thrash rather than death or black metal. I've always felt that, when done properly, thrash can be the most intense subgenre of metal, and this album definitely proves that. Across the entire album, there is not a single moment that isn’t fast. Either the guitars or drums (or often, both) are a flurry of notes that are difficult to decipher. The only moment that can be called slow is the intro of the final track, where you hear the sound of a bulldozer. It’s almost as if they took Dark Angel’s claim of having 246 riffs on an album as a challenge, except that Fastkill decided to do it in less than half the time. Speaking of Dark Angel, there is even a reference to “Darkness Descends” on the track “Guillotine Attack”. There is one riff that is almost identical, though it is faster than the original. Sadly, that is probably the most memorable riff on the entire thing. There are no bad riffs, but when there is so little variation, it’s impossible to pick favourites. The vocals are nothing more than short, high-pitched screams that appropriately fit the madness of the music. The other two instruments are designed to compliment the massacre of guitar-work and do nothing more than that.

The only real conclusion I can give to you is that this is one record you have to hear to believe. Never before have I heard any band have such a disregard for interesting songwriting in favour of an all-out assault of riffs. To some extent, it works. When I’m looking for something that I don’t have to get too invested in, “Bestial Thrashing Bulldozer” gets the job done.  But it also means that this is a difficult record to get into. Even after several listens, it’s difficult to think of any of the songs. If you love records like “Darkness Descends”, “Disturbing the Noise” (Attomica), and “Impact Is Imminent”, Fastkill is the band for you.

Be sure to check out and like Fastkill on Facebook!

Highlights:
The whole thing!

Final Rating:
3.75/5 or 75%

Written by Scott